THISweekend a 100 athletes will take to the streets of London for the 40th annual Marathon.
Thousands of people will also be taking part in an online virtual race.
This year's race, usually takes place on Sunday April 26, will be the first ever autumn marathon.
Due to coronavirus, runners will be living in a 'biosecure bubble' in the lead up and wearing social distancing technology.
When is the London marathon?
The 2020 London marathon will take place on Sunday October 4.
Timings for the day are as follows:
- 07:15 – Elite Women's Race
- 10:15 – Elite Men's Race
- 13:10 – Wheelchair races
- 00:00-23:59 – Virtual mass participation race
What is this year's route?
The three elite races will take place on an enclosed looped course in St James’s Park in a secure biosphere.
The race will start on Horse Guards Road, and athletes will run 19 laps in total to reach the required marathon distance before finishing on the Mall.
For non-elite runners, the marathon distance can be covered where ever during the 24 hour period.
How will the virtual marathon work?
Anyone participating in the virtual marathon will have 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds (from 00:00 to 23:59:59 BST) to complete the 26.2 miles.
They can choose to run, jog or walk the event.
Using the London Marathon app, they will be able to log their 26.2 miles and complete the marathon.
Is Mo Farah running?
The British Olympic star Farah IS running – but as a pacemaker for sub 2-hour man Eliud Kipchoge.
Four-time Olympic champion Farah will not finish though.
Kenenisa Bekele was also supposed to run, but the Ethiopian, 38, has withdrawn at the last minute.
I am very disappointed that I cannot race on Sunday. It has been a tough preparation time, with lockdown, when I couldn’t have my NN team around me. I was in good shape but then I picked up a niggle in my left calf after two fast training sessions close together in the last weeks of preparation.I have been having treatment every day since then and I truly believed I would be ready, but today it is worse and I now know I cannot race on it. This race was so important to me. My time in Berlin last year gave me great confidence and motivation and I was looking forward to show that again, I have worked so hard for it. I realise many people around the world have been looking forward to this race and I am sorry to disappoint my fans, the organisers and my fellow competitors. I will take time to recover and become fit again and I hope to be back in London next year.
A post shared byKenenisa Bekele (@kenenisabekele_42) on
What is the year's prize money?
This year's prize money will be cut in half due to the financial impact of Covid-19.
Last year organisers awarded £242,000 in prize money to elite athletes, with another £656,000 up for grabs in time bonuses.
Despite the prize fund being cut in half, for the first time there will be a separate prize pool for the best performing British athletes.
Speaking on the prize reduction, London Marathon’s head of elite athletes Spencer Barden said: "It wasn’t an easy decision, but what we’ve done this year is reduce the price structure for the international runners by almost 50% from previous years.
"However, we’ve also created a British-only place price structure this year, so the top three British athletes will have a prizes solely for them."
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